frequently asked questions

Private company investing is extremely high risk, regardless of the industry, and Cannin makes no assurance that deals will be successful. Investors could lose 100% of their investment and should only invest if they can afford to absorb such losses.

In the United States, to be considered an accredited investor, one must have a net worth of at least $1 million dollars, excluding the value of one’s primary residence, or have income at least $200,000 each year for the last two years (or $300,000 combined income if married) and have the expectation to make the same amount this year. The term “accredited investor” is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Please check with your financial advisor to see if you qualify.

Legal cannabis across the globe is expanding at an exponential rate. With mega growth comes mega profit potential for investors. According to market research firm ArcView, annual legal cannabis sales in North America will increase 250% by 2020 to $22 billion. Giant institutions won’t be the only ones to profit from legalization. Online trading has made it possible for the average trader/investor to get in on the action. The issue is the time and experience needed to properly research the many cannabis companies popping up. Not all will be winners, and not all are primed to explode.

The SEC considers any stock that costs less than $5 per share a penny stock. Most penny stocks trade on OTCBB and Pink Sheets, which are vulnerable to market manipulation due to the lack of regulation. Companies that are listed on a SEC regulated exchange (i.e. NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX) must meet certain financial reporting and price requirements to be allowed such listing.

Many of the cannabis companies are ancillary businesses levered to the growth of the industry. These companies do not actually touch the plant. Cannabis companies do not go public through typical methods. The companies go public through reverse mergers. A reverse merger allows a private company to become public without having to raise capital, which simplifies the process. While conventional IPOs can take months to materialize, reverse mergers can take only a few weeks to complete (in some cases, in as little as 30 days). In a reverse merger, investors of the private company acquire a majority in the shares of the public shell company, which is then merged with the purchasing entity.

OTCQX is the highest tier of the OTC. Companies that trade on the OTCQX meet certain financial metrics, can prove that they are in compliance with U.S Securities laws, provide disclosures, and are sponsored by a professional, independent third party.

OTCQB has less stringent requirements than the OTCQX tier. Companies that trade on the OTCQB are developmental companies. On May 1, 2014, the OTCQB implemented a one-penny bid price requirement ($0.01) to improve the quality of the tier. To qualify for the OTCQB tier, the CEO or CFO must certify that the reported information is current and accurate and are required to go through an annual verification and certification process. Companies that fall under this tier tend to vary in strength because there are no minimum financial standards.

OTCPK (OTC Pink) is the lowest tier on the OTC exchange. These companies typically provide limited or no financial reporting information to the SEC. Technical420 does not recommend investing in companies that trade on the OTCPK due to the lack of information provided. Companies that trade on the OTCPK are considered to be beyond speculative. When an OTCPK listed company becomes current with the SEC, they may qualify for the OTCQB if they also satisfy the one-penny bid requirement. There are only a few companies that trade on the OTCPK and are current with their SEC disclosures.

Charlotte’s Web is strain of medical marijuana that gained national attention after CNN aired Dr. Gupta’s documentary about a little girl named Charlotte who was suffering from over 300 seizures a day. Faced with no other option, Charlotte’s family reached out to a family of brothers who cultivated a high-CBD, low-THC strain of marijuana. The strain proved to be an effective form of medicine with little psychoactive side effects. It was named Charlotte’s Web after it helped significantly reduce the number of seizures the little girl suffered.

CBD is able to reduce the psychoactive effects of THC in the body by antagonizing the action of THC at the CB1 receptors; CB1 receptors are associated with the psychotropic effects of marijuana. CBD also has antipsychotic properties which can counteract those produced by THC. It can relieve cannabis-induced anxiety as well as anxiety from other causes. Even though it has several unwanted side effects, THC is a vital ingredient for medical cannabis since cannabinoids are more effective when taken together rather than when taken individually.

THC is one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. It is the psychoactive component responsible for the user feeling “high”. CBD or cannabidiol is another cannabinoid found in marijuana. It does not have psychoactive effects and therefore does not make users “stoned.”

Currently, 27 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana, decriminalized marijuana, or both. Also, 4 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 14 states have legalized a limited form of marijuana by allowing patients access to cannabidiol (CBD).

Risk of Prosecution for Marijuana-Related Companies. If you are considering investing in a company that is connected to the marijuana industry, be aware that marijuana-related companies may be at risk of federal, and perhaps state, criminal prosecution. The Department of Treasury recently issued guidance noting: “[T]he Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) makes it illegal under federal law to manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana. Many states impose and enforce similar prohibitions. Notwithstanding the federal ban, as of the date of this guidance, 20 states and the District of Columbia have legalized certain marijuana-related activity.”